Be careful, because playing Nintendogs can apparently get you attacked by a real dog.

A somewhat disturbing story has come out of the UK about a little girl that was viciously attacked by a dog possibly because she was playing Nintendogs. While this might at first seem like the unjust blaming of videogames by a publication known somewhat for doing so (the Daily Mail), this attack actually could be the result of an unfortunate coincidence this time.

Nine-year-old Megan Walker was playing Nintendogs on her Nintendo DS at a family friend's abode while the house Bull Mastiff named Saracen was sleeping in a nearby room. Reportedly, when the Mastiff heard Walker's in-game dogs barking it came gunning for her, dragged her off of a sofa, and bit a large portion of her lip off.

The girl was taken to a hospital where surgeons were able to sew her lip back on. Though she's doing better, it's unknown if she'll need plastic surgery or not. The mastiff was put down as a result of the attack.

Walker recounts what happened: "[Nintendogs] barked and Saracen dragged me off the couch by my foot. I was scared." Walker's grandmother says: "I blame the game for what happened to Megan. If they hadn't been playing it I don't think the dog would have gone for her."

So what do you think? Is it actually possible that the noises coming from Nintendogs were the trigger for such a violent attack? Some dogs certainly have violent tendencies, but the dog's owner told police that that little girl may have kicked Saracen, so videogames weren't the only possibility here.

In this case, above others, it actually seems plausible that a videogame was partially and coincidentally responsible for a terrible event, though I wouldn't exactly blame Shigeru Miyamoto for a coincidence. Then again, if a dog is that violent it shouldn't be running free around nine-year-olds, so its owner was ultimately responsible rather than the game.

Yep, and play Modern Warfare and terrorists will come into your house and shoot you. I'm not trying to play down this incident, its tragic, but now a videogame has indirectly hurt a young girl, this will be ammo against gaming

I blame the game for what happened to Megan. If they hadn't been playing it I don't think the dog would have gone for her

Although, considering its the Daily Mail, im surprised they didnt try to blame it on foreigners, the racist scum

No one from Nintendo was available for comment.

and why would they be? its not like sort of thing is a hazard nintendo could have prepared for. maybe replace the actual barking with subtitles? woof woof. bark-ing mad is what this is, just a load of bull(mastiff)

Yeah. I hate dogs, they can all go die, and this story has just reaffirmed that hate.

It wasn't the games fault though, of course. It's just stupid barbaric dog nature. She could have been watching a tv show about dogs. The only reason it went for her is because it was on her lap where the bark came from.

Due to the fact that it's coming from the Daily Mail, I call bullshit on this anti-videogame story. But if for some far-fetched reason that this really did transpire, then it's oblivious the owner's fault for not training their dumbass dog not to attack lil kids or for just keeping it in the same the vicinity of the child. There have been way too many vicious dog attacks, in the UK lately.

I WISH people, especially the media, would stop blaming things on video gaming, when there are other, higher-ranking things related to this.Dog = FUCKING MASSIVE. Problem 1Dog = NOT TRAINED AROUND LITTLE KIDS. Problem 2Parents = NOT WILLING TO TAKE BLAME. Problem 3 (the major one, because that proves the parents are afraid of responsibility)

Ta-DAH.3 larger problems found.Anyone wish to contribute to this list?

EDIT: To the 6 or so people so far that wave quoted me, thank you, especially the one that said 'Couldn't have put it better myself' (or something very much like that)

Now, can you please not quote me? Logging on to see that 2 more people quoting me is nice, but on the same topic?Jeez, it's like the quote button's broken people's minds and MADE them quote me.In case you didn't notice, I don't like attention.NOT.AT.ALL.

They blame the game, then kill the dog? Bad incident, but that seems a disconnect in logic there. I don't know what the cause was, likely the lack of dog training, but... yeah, it doesn't make sense to me.

Oh well, in this case whatever the mass-media does, I'm fairly certain that between the cutesy, harmless perception of Nintendogs, and the generally increased awareness of incidents involving dogs lately, the only people really going to start making noise over videogame involvement in this will be people looking for a reason, anyway.

Also, the Daily Mail, again? Why do we always have to get our news from particularly crappy and dishonest tabloids? -.-

"fuck, my dog bit off my best friend's daughter's lip! shitohshitohshit! how do i get outta this one?! wait.... VIDEO GAMES! yesssss!"

this is all im reading... hate idiots that cant control their dog. get a cat if you cant handle the responsibility (like me :D ). a dog is a full-time job (a rewarding one ofc), and if your dog is willing to bite a human over hearing puppy-barks, youre a crappy dog-owner.

Not sure why everyone is assuming that because the dog was a large breed it was necessarily violent by nature. Bullmastiffs are, as a breed, generally very docile, obedient and loyal. They are prized as family pets for this reason.

This is a very unfortunate incident, but dogs are complex. Any number of things could have set it off. That said I personally don't think Nintendogs had anything to do with it. The Mail is an abhorrent publication.

Digi7:Yeah. I hate dogs, they can all go die, and this story has just reaffirmed that hate.

It wasn't the games fault though, of course. It's just stupid barbaric dog nature. She could have been watching a tv show about dogs. The only reason it went for her is because it was on her lap where the bark came from.

Bu-...wha-...pardon me?I've owned two fairly big dogs, and my nephews and nieces (All when toddlers) have rolled all over them, pulled their hair in their innocent ignorance, and grabbed their tails and they dogs didn't even remotely twitch in a way that was aggressive. 'Stupid Dog Nature'? I get attacked more by cats then by dogs!

I mean, I totally get if people prefer a certain pet over others. I'm a dog guy, my sister-in-law is a cat person, and a friend of mine is a snake person. But to hate the another pet to the point of wanting them all dead? Seems...illogically silly.

More on topic: It's a shame what happened to the girl. But blaming the game is ridiculous. IF someone mistreats a dog, and it get's loose and attacks a kid going by it's house, do we blame the kid for being in it's territory? No, we blame the owner for mishandling the life of another creature and conditioning it to be aggressive.

We obviously don't have all the facts in this situation, but every dog owned by everyone I know personally would never do anything like this. And they are all lovingly cared for and properly trained. Seems like if you took away one or both of those factors, you'd end up with this situation. Education people!

I and my brothers have played Nintendogs around my nan's dogs (all 4 dalmatians) and they were fine with it. I doubt it was the games fault and more likely the dog that just went a little bit ape s**t. Still, this is kinda weird. I feel sorry for the girl.

I WISH people, especially the media, would stop blaming things on video gaming, when there are other, higher-ranking things related to this.Dog = FUCKING MASSIVE. Problem 1Dog = NOT TRAINED AROUND LITTLE KIDS. Problem 2Parents = NOT WILLING TO TAKE BLAME. Problem 3 (the major one, because that proves the parents are afraid of responsibility)

Ta-DAH.3 larger problems found.Anyone wish to contribute to this list?

well put. two more:

Parents = WHO THE FUCK LETS A MASSIVE DOG, WHICH THEY HAVE NO IDEA HOW BEHAVES, INTO THEIR HOUSE WHEN THEY GOT A LITTLE KID? problem 4

circumstances = HOW DID THE DOG GET TO THE LIP? A KIDS LIP AINT EXACTLY EASY TO REACH LIKE A FINGER. problem 5... i mean... dont they go for the throat og leg? only times ive heard dogs biting off lips is if you try to "kiss" em and they disslike it.

so wait... you have a real dog to play with...and your playing nintendogs?we arn't vampires people- go outside and play with your dogs!

additionaly: dogs can have many diffrent reactions to stimuli especially when deprived of early experiences with various things-bla bla bla. dog must have thought she was another dog or something bla bla in his turf bla.i mean lets face it sharks attack people because they think were fish, dogs can't make that mistake every now and then when a device that replicates another dog is brought into the mix?Also: Digi7- unless you were brought up next to a litter of agressive pants eating doberman death squads from down the lane, we dont wanna hear about your irrational hatred for dogs.

The Cheezy One:Yep, and play Modern Warfare and terrorists will come into your house and shoot you. I'm not trying to play down this incident, its tragic, but now a videogame has indirectly hurt a young girl, this will be ammo against gaming

I blame the game for what happened to Megan. If they hadn't been playing it I don't think the dog would have gone for her

Although, considering its the Daily Mail, im surprised they didnt try to blame it on foreigners, the racist scum

No one from Nintendo was available for comment.

and why would they be? its not like sort of thing is a hazard nintendo could have prepared for. maybe replace the actual barking with subtitles? woof woof bark-ing mad is what this is, just a load of bull

Obviously the only reason the girl survived was because the ghost of Princess Diana came in to save the day by exorcising the dog of the immigrant spirits that were possessing it, which also saved many British jobs in the process no thanks to the Government!

This is probably another bullshit story by the Daily Mail. I don't see anything about this on the BBC, although they are probably busy reporting on real news stories rather than making stuff up. Kind of like the story about that woman who was 'addicted to gaming' and left her kids to starve and a dead dog on the floor for months. Which was reported here a few days/weeks ago.